The Friends of Leith Church invite you to participate in the maintenance and restoration of this historic 'Auld Kirk' by attending the many events and concerts planned for this year. We have purposely retained our traditional low-ticket prices in order to build an audience for The Leith Summer Festival, which continues to feature some of the finest artists performing today in Canada. From CEILIDH to CHRISTMAS we present a menu of services, performances and activities that will provide a wonderful introduction to the outstanding acoustics and beauty of our heritage church and its surroundings.

This Annual Memorial service presents an opportunity to both honour and remember those who are interred in the Leith Cemetery. It is also an opportunity to attend to the presentation and maintenance of the grave sites. This year we honour the Fleming Family.

It has become customary for the Friends of Leith Church to designate the graves of those who have served in Canada's military - from the Fenian Raids of the 1860's to the Armed Forces of the 21st century - with the placement of special flags or markers. Historical tributes to families represented in the cemetery are incorporated into the Memorial Service.

Saturday May 30 [7:30 pm] - Steinacher Bursary Concert Eleven years ago at the annual 'Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols', the Friends of Leith Church announced the first recipient of its bursary for advanced music students in the northern Grey-Bruce area, named in honour of the well known Owen Sound musician, teacher and co-founder of the Georgian Bay Symphony Orchestra, Donna Steinacher. Five amazingly talented young area musicians have received and benefited from this significant Canadian Bursary since its inception.

The recipient for 2015 year’s bursary is Reanne Kruisselbrink , who is studying for a Master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Ottawa. She is a student of the violin and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Laurier University, graduating with ‘high distinction. Reanne is one of six very talented sister from the Tara area.

The Donna Steinacher Bursary, although sponsored by The Friends of Leith Church, has on its organizing and awards committee many well known musicians and arts patrons from the Owen Sound and Meaford area. The recipient of the bursary must be a resident of northern Grey-Bruce counties and will usually be a graduate, or music student soon to graduate, from a baccalaureate level university music program with the intention of pursuing further studies in music performance at the post-graduate level. It can be presented on an annual basis and is valued at up to five thousand dollars, the exact amount to be determined by a combination of concert ticket sales, sponsorship and donations. The generosity of local music lovers and sponsors has assured that all the recipients to date have received the full five thousand dollar amount.

Tickets are $25 and available from the Roxy Theatre, members of the Donna Steinacher Bursary committee, Georgian Bay Symphony office, or by phone at 519-371-5316. Ticket purchasers who donate additional funds of $25 or more to the Bursary will receive an income tax charitable donation receipt for that amount and an invitation to the post-concert reception.

Leith Church will be open July and August Sunday afternoons from 2 - 4 pm or by appointment, for further information please call 371-5308.

Admission to the Leith Church 'Highland Concert and CEILIDH is free with a collection taken for the continuing restoration and maintenance of the church. This is an outdoor concert held on the church grounds at the rear of the church, so bringing a blanket or portable chairs is advised. In the event of rain, it will be held inside where seating is limited to 180 persons.

This annual service of worship will celebrate the 22th anniversary of the formation of the Friends of Leith Church, the 150th anniversary of the restored Leith United Church building and the 151th anniversary of its establishment as a Church of
Scotland (Auld Kirk) congregation by its pioneer founders in the summer of 1862.
Following worship, the traditional 'Lunch Under the Oak' will be served; a congenial time of food and fellowship. Collection only.

Join us in the lamplit beauty and warmth of Leith’s ‘Auld Kirk’ to hear again the story of the birth of Christ in word and song. The lessons will be read by members of the North Grey community and there will be congregational carol singing of many old favourites.

This is a very popular event and as seating is limited to 150 persons, we suggest an early arrival to ensure a place. Tickets are not needed.